Rotary-cutter can-opener



Jan. 5, 1932. J 0, GADD 1,839,474

ROTARY CUTTER CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 5, 1929 M m @mmz Patented Jan. 5, 1932 1 J'OSEFH OBTEN GADD, \VALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSEGHGR T 3. "WALLACE 8..

SONS MANUFACTURING-COMPANY, OF WALLINGFOBD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- ROTARY-CUTTER cart-OPENER Application filed October s, 1929. Serial No. sea res.

This invention relates to an improvement in can-openers and particularly to can-openers of the rotary-cutter type.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a simple and reliable rotary-cutter can-opener constructed with particular reference to facilitating the rotary movement of the cutter to minimize the effort required to operate the can-opener.

A further object of this invention is toprovide a can-opener of the type referred to in which the tendency of the cutter to ride upward upon the rim of the can is minimized.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in a rotary-cutter can-opener h aving certain details of const ruction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a rotary-cutter canopener embodying my invention, the partial outline of the top of a can being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a broken edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view looking toward the pivot end thereof; 6

Fig. 4 is an enlarged-scale broken view partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the application of the can-opener to a can;

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of the rotarysleeve detached, prior to the application of the rotary-cutter thereto and the formation of the retaining-flange;

Fig. 6 is a face view of the rotary-cutter detached; and

Fig. 7 is a view thereof in edge elevation.

In carrying out my inventioncas herein shown, I employ a disk-likeplano-convex rotary-cutter 10 having a convex outer face 11 for engagement, adjacent its axial bearingpassage 12, with the inner face of the rim 13 of a can 14 and also having a flat complementary inner face 15. The edge of the rotarycutter is beveled off in the usual manner to provide a sharp peripheral cutting-edge 16 and it is provided with the axial bearing-passage 12 aforesaid, which is adapted to rotate upon an annular bearing-surface 17 formed upon the'periphery of a sleeve 18. The said bearing-passage12-is larger in diameter than the bearing-surface 17 to permit the rotarycutter 10 to haveslight rocking movement with respect to the sleeve 18 for the purpose as will hereinafter appear.

The cutter 11 has rotary, rocking and limited endwise movement upon the bearingsurface 17 of the sleeve 18 and is held in place against displacement by a retainingflange 19 formed at the inner end of the said sleeve and by an annularlimiting-shoulder 20 formed about midway the length of the sleeve and terminating at its outer end in a peripheral bearing-surface 21 larger in diameter than the bearing-surface 17 and adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the rim 13 of the can 14 or similar article, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The outer end of the sleeve 18 opposite the retaining-flange 19 is formed with an annular guide-flange 22 projecting outward from the bearing-surface 21 aforesaid and virtually creating, between its inner face and the adjacent convex outer face of the cutter 10, anannularguide-groove 23 for the reception of the rim 13 of the can 14 aforesaid.

The sleeve 18 is mounted for both rotary and axial sliding movement upon rod-like shank 24 formed at its inner end with a longitudinal cutaway portion 25 for the reception of an end-plate 26 secured to it by means of rivets27. 7

The end-plate 26 just above referred to is provided at a point axially in line with the shank 24 with an offsetting sharp-ended prong or pivot 28 arranged parallel therewith and adapted to be forced through the center of one endof a can in the customary manner of such can-openers.

The end-plate 26 is also formed with a hook-like projection 29 for the removal of bottle-caps and at its opposite side witha tang 30 extending substantially parallel with the shank 24 from which it is spaced by a clearance-notch 31, The inner edge of the said tang 130 is provided with av sharp edge 32 for opening cans in the usual manner of desired. 1

lever-type can-openersif such procedure is" The end of the shank 24 opposite the pivot 28 is provided with a handle 33 by means of which my improved can-opener may be employed for opening cans by means of the rotary-cutter 10 or by means of the cuttingtan 30 or for removing bottle-caps by means of t 1e hook 29, as may be elected.

In the use of my improved can-opener, the pivot or prong 28 is forced through the center of one end of .a can, after which the sleeve 18 is slid along the shank 2% until the guidegroove 23 is in line with the rim 13 of the can 14, at which time downward pressure is applied upon the handle 33, with the efiect of causing the cutting-edge16 of the rotarycutter 10 to penetrate the end of the can at a point acent the innerface of the rim 13 to extent sufficient to bring the bearing: surface 21 in engagement with the upper end of the said rim, as shown in Fig. A ofthe drawings. V

The cutter is now rolled edgewise by swinging the handle 33 around the can, with the effect of causing the said cutter to sever the top of the same in the usual manner of canopeners of the rotary-cutter type. N ow insofar as the sleeve 18 is free to rotate upon the shank 24 and the cutter 10 is free to rotate upon the said sleeve it will be seen that each may have a diiferent speed of rotation as is required to have each of them make a rolling contact with the portions of the can with which they engage. Thus the sleeve 18, owing to the fact that its bearingsur'face 21 is smaller in diameter than the cutter 10, will roll much faster than the latter, which is a condition requisite to smooth and easy cutting.

By conveXing the outer face 11 of the cutter 10, the cutting-edge 16 of the same is maintained out of contact with the inner face of the rim 13, so that there is no appreciable tendency for the cutter to jam or ride up upon the said rim, as has been the case when the edge of the cutter has been permitted to engage the inner face of the rim 13.

l urthermore, by arranging the cutter 10 so that it is free for limited oscillating movement, any unevenness in the can is compensated for, such, for instance, as the ver tical seam in the can, which causes a bulge in the rim.

I claim: 7

.1. A can-opener comprising a cylindrical shank provided at its opposite ends respectively with a handle and a pivot; a rotarysleeve mounted upon the said cylindrical shank; and a disk-like cutter mounted upon the said sleeve with capacity for both inde pendent rotation and lateral rocking movement with respect thereto; whereby the said cutter and sleeve may-have differential rotary as well as rocking movement'to facilitate the opening of a can.

2. A can-opener comprising a cylindrical shank provided at its opposite ends respectively with a handle and a pivot; a rotarysleeve mounted upon the said cylindrical shank; and a disk-likecutter mounted upon the said sleeve with capacity for both independent rotation and lateral rocking move ment with respect thereto.

3. A can-opener comprising a cylindrical shank provided at its opposite ends respectively with a handle and a pivot; a rotarysleeve mounted upon the said cylindrical shank and formed with a peripheral bearing-surface flanked by a complementary pair of limiting-shoulders; and a disk-like rotarycutter thinner than the distance between the limiting-shoulders of the said sleeve and provided with an axial bearing-passage appreciably larger in diameter than the said bearing-surface for free rotation and lateral rocking movement thereon between the said limiting-shoulders.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

JOSEPH O. GADD. 

